KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The Taliban’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Sardar Ahmad Shakeeb, says that he has received reports of Pakistani police instructing Afghan nationals, including those with valid legal documents, to vacate Islamabad and Rawalpindi by January 15.
In a meeting with Philippa Candler, the Head of UNHCR in Pakistan, Shakeeb expressed concern over the considerable distress this move has caused within Afghan communities. He urged the UN to intervene and protect the rights of Afghan refugees, according to a statement issued by the Taliban-controlled Afghanistan Embassy in Islamabad.
The Taliban ambassador also raised concern over the ongoing detention and harassment of Afghan refugees in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. He highlighted that Pakistani police are arresting individuals, including women and children, as well as those with valid visas and legal documentation.
“Ambassador Shakeeb emphasized that numerous Afghans, who have resided in Rawalpindi for decades, have been compelled to shut down their businesses and shops in recent weeks due to fear of police actions,” the embassy’s statement reads.
The statement further notes that the head of UNHCR in Pakistan also expressed concern over the recent actions by the Pakistani authorities toward Afghan refugees. She highlighted her ongoing discussions with Pakistani officials on the matter and expressed hope that the issue would be resolved in the coming days.
Pakistani officials have yet to comment on the matter.
For decades, Pakistan has provided refuge to millions of Afghan refugees fleeing conflict, political instability, persecution, and unemployment in Afghanistan. Since the Taliban’s return to power, thousands more – primarily former government officials, activists, women, and journalists – have sought refuge in Pakistan, fearing prosecution.
In November 2023, Pakistan launched a crackdown on foreign nationals residing in the country without legal documentation, citing it as a counter-terrorism measure in response to an increase in security incidents. Since then, nearly 800,000 Afghan refugees have been deported back to Afghanistan.
The crackdown has intensified in recent days, particularly in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, where Pakistani police have raided the residences of Afghan refugees, arresting, detaining, and deporting even those with valid visas and legal documentation.
Human rights organizations have condemned Pakistan’s treatment of Afghan refugees and its mass deportation efforts, warning that these actions put an already vulnerable population at further risk. Amnesty International has called on the Pakistani government to fulfill its international obligations, halt the harassment and deportation of Afghan refugees, and end what it described as “discriminatory policies” against Afghan refugees.